Going through Vicodin & Narco withdrawl(withdrawal)

Hi, I found this forum and I hope someone can just give me some hope that it will all get better soon.
    My story is, I have been on Vicodin and Norco for 10 months now. I had back surgery at the end of Aug. I was up to taking up to 10 pills a day. My back is feelling much better and I dont need those pills anymore. The doctor said I need to ween myself off. That didnt work for me. Now I out and going through withdrawl (withdrawal). It has been 72 hours since my last pill. I cant sleep, or eat much. I have had diarrea (diarrhea) for days now. Im sooooo reatless and figgity. Usually cant sit still. Feel like creepy crallys on the skin sometimes. This just sucks.!!!!!! My doctor perscribed me Clonidine witch is giving me mager dry mouth. Also Lorazepam. I have been taking these for two days now. I STILL cant sleep. They just make me feel drousy all day. I dont want to do anything just sit here. I just want to know how long this will last. I really need these withdrawl (withdrawal) symtoms (symptoms) to dissappear. I REALLY want to feel BETTER again.

Sorry soooo long, thanks

[GA Guy]

Every single thing you mentioned is a common withdrawal symptom. After 72 hours, things should be getting better every day. I agree, the clonidine does give terrible dry mouth. But, just hang with it for about a week, and taper off of the clonidine. Melatonin and valerian root may help with the sleep. The best advice is just hang in there, things will start looking up soon. There's some more information on my profile page if you're interested. Just click on the GAGuy blue link to the left of this post.

[myebunny]

Thanks for the advice. I figured I would just have to wait these symtoms (symptoms) out. Its just really hard to do. I have to look for the positve. Thanks again

[Beargizmo]

try getting a bunch of small hard candies for help with the dry mouth..or artificial
saliva available at the pharmacy.  I drank a lot of water but that didn't seem to help all that much..

I'm surprised the combination of clonidine and lorazepam (xanax?) isn't helping you sleep.  I was taking clonidine and klonipin (klonopin) and I'd practically fall asleep on my feet.  My daughter came home a couple nights and found me sitting up in my chair here at the computer snoring away..

Good luck....you're almost there!


Jim

[keywhite]

I too, am on clonidine which has been a tremendous help.  No diarrhea, some restlessness but feel exhausted and cannot sleep either.   Anyway, hang in there not much longer.

[myebunny]

I did'nt think of hard candy, that sounds like it would work. I think the lorazepam is like klonopin just maybe alittle stronger. I was on that before for a diferent reason. I do get very tired. When I do fall asleep I then wake up about 30minutes later and its over for the rest of the night for me. I end up waking every 15 minutes looking at the clock having that bad feeling of restlessness and figgity. Lots of tossing and turning.

Thanks for the advice, I can use it right now.

[myebunny]

Glad to here clonidine works for you. Good luck to you. Hopefully feeling better and sleeping better are in the NEAR future for us both.

[dmanbass]

hey! I just went through 15 days at least of almost no sleep except an hour here and there. I thought it would never end. Then after 2 weeks I got a nights sleep and have had several since then. It will pass. Everything does. I know the challenge is NOT to go back to the stuff to make us feel better. Thats the damn stuff that got us all here in the first place. So please, remember that at this very moment others like you are going through the exact same thing and wondering the exact same thoughts as you. It sucks! But.....just think how good it will feel in a few weeks when you can say, look what I have done. I feel good again. Hope this helps. PS, I am taking multi-vitamins and they seem to help with giving me a little energy. Also maybe try to eat a little each day. I know you probably don't want to huh? Try to go get a case of cup of noodles. Sounds silly but nice hot soup, in the middle of the night, will keep you company.

[myebunny]

Congradulations on finally getting sleep. It's nice to know there are people out there going through the same thing as me. ( I mean that in a good way, not bad)  I do have alot of soup in the house. Thanks for the advice. Just hearing other peoples stories helps alot. Thanks

[notmenow!]

You do not know how lucky you are to have such an understanding DR to give you clonidine and something for anxiety and the shakes and tremors.  And something to help you sleep. I have heard of some heroin addicts detoxing with nothing but clonidine, (period) nothing for anxiety at all. The ativan is also helping with the leg cramping and the RLS which is a primary reason why people can't sleep. You have been able to accomplish what many others have failed at time and time again. You should feel very proud. But at the same time do not forget the hell you had to go through to be able to even communicate with another person without thinking about getting high. STAY ON THE PATH---NOAH

[myebunny]

Yeah, I have to say telling the DR that Im going through withdrawl (withdrawal) from painkillers was very hard. I was feeling so bad so I had to tell her so I can get some kind of help. Believe me if I had some pills infront of me 4 days ago I still would be taking them. But now that I have been almost 5 days free from the painkillers Im not going to turn back. The restlessness is the worst. I am happy that my DR perscribed me the medication to help with that. Even with that Im still not sleeping well. I wonder if the dose is too low. Im not going to take more though. I sure dont want to start that. I pretty much feel like a zombie right now. HA HA I guess thats good for Halloween. Have to make a joke Im tired of feeling down.
Thanks for your thoughts,
Heather

[ChronicCaroline]

YOU ARE DOING GREAT! I am totally pickin' up what your layin' down about the withdrawls. Two years ago I went through that with Ultram. The docs and pharmacists treat like a highly controlled substance, but isn't labeled that by the FDA yet, it should be. I will never forget what I went through, everything you are now...BUT I got through it and YOU WILL TOO! If just sitting there is what you wannt to do, then so be it. Before you know it, 72 hrs will be one week, and then two weeks ect. If you fall, get up and do it again. Your symptoms will start decreasing very soon, you are over the worst initial hours, I know, you still feel like ****...IT WILL PASS!

Applaud yourself! People have not made it through one day after many tries (eh hem...Britney Spears, Lindsey Lohan). You are strong!

[notmenow!]

Heather, You are on your way. When a person can show a little humor is a very good sign. Do not play with the clonidine dose. It is very dangerous. The activan what does does she have you on? You see the clonidine drops the blood pressure, without it your pressure will spike, Just stay on your path.

[myebunny]

Im following the directions that the DR gave me. Im taking Clonidine 0.1mg twice a day. Im also taking Adivan 1mg three times a day. The doctor gave me enough to take for 10 days. I do notice Im getting alittle better. Last night I got alittle more sleep than usual. But these pills Im on now make me feel funny, you know like drousy, weak, etc... all those side affects. But I WILL STAY ON THEM TO GET THROUGH THIS. 5Days free and getting better.

[myebunny]

Hello everyone, I made it to day 6 !!!!  I still didnt get much sleep last night. My appetite is not there yet either. Im so happy that I dont have to go back to work till the end of Nov. from having my back surgery. This gives me the time to get myself better. Im sorry for those who are going through withdrawl (withdrawal) and have to work too. Just keep going and you'll make it through. Thats what I have learned from everyone on this forum. Your all a great help.

[notmenow!]

Try breaking one ativan in half during the day and take two at bedtime. If the leg cramps are a major problem at night call your DR and ask her for quinine prescription they use this in inpatient detox for the leg cramps,

If you just had back where you seeing a pain management DR, and why did they not taper you off the opiates. Or is this DR your PM DR?--------NOAH

[notmenow!]

The clonidine will also cause drowsiness because your BP is low.-------------------------NOAH

[myebunny]

Well its 4am and I got about 4 hours of sleep so far. I dont get leg cramps just RLS. I'd rather get up out of bed than wake my boyfriend from all my tossing and turning every 5 minutes. I just took a half of an ativan, hopefully I't will help and I can go back to bed again soon. We'll see.

The last script I got for Norco was this month from my back surgeon. He told me that I need to start tapering. I said ok, but you know that I did'nt. So when I ran out I could not call him up and ask for more. I was embarrest that I took so many and I didnt think he would perscribe me more at that time. My back pain seems to be getting better. I may be able to just get by on taking some Bayer Back and Body or Naproxen for the pain for now.

Anyway, the day after I took my last pill I went to see my Primary DR for another reason. So I opened up to her that I needed something because I believed I was going through withdrawl (withdrawal).I think she would have perscribed me more but I came out and told her that I would not be able to taper them. I tried. So I told her I do not want to be on those painkillers anymore. She perscribed the Clonidine and Ativan.

That sounds like a good idea about breaking the ativan in two for the day and then taking two at night. Because the nights now seem worse than the days sometimes.  I have about a 4 more day supply. I hope that when those are gone my withdrawl (withdrawal) will be gone. I HOPE!!!!!    

Is sneezing a part of withdrawl (withdrawal)??? Sounds funny but I dont remember sneezing so much. Or is it just the weather? any idea?
Thanks, Heather

[FLbella]

Good Luck with your recovery.  Thank your lucky stars that you never progressed to taking oxycontin.  That makes Vicodin look like candy when you compare withdrawal.  Every since my botched surgery, I've taken EVERYTHING that the Doctors tried me on and Oxy is the first and only drug to make me feel like death after just hours of missing a dose (not days, just hours).  

I'll keep you in my thoughts.  

[azbunny]

[azbunny]

it's been 3 weeks since i stopped taking them serval times a day for years and now getting past the flu like symptons and what not im left this empty tired shell of a  person. i cant think work im tired and yawn all day im like sleep walking....why is this happeneing to me can anyone help im desperate!!!

[FLbella]

yes Heather, sneezing is a part of w/d.  When I am late on my oxy dose or after I slept (therefor missing a dose) I go into sneezing fits.  

[myebunny]

Happy Halloween!!!! I actually had a good nights sleep. I stayed in bed all night without getting up. Of course there is that occasional tossing and turning but that wasnt too bad. I'm still taking the meds from the DR. I have enough till Friday. After that I guess its up to me. I do feel alot better than a few days ago. I went through a divorce this summer. You know I was high on Vicodin the whole time. My head is getting clearer and I hope I can stay on the same track. I have alot to figure out. I know if I ever need any advice just jump on to this forum. Thanks to you all. Well its only been 8 days with out the bad pills. So I'm sure I still have a long way to go.

Have a good day

[tensamerica]

THIS IS MY 7TH DAY OFF OF NARCO I WAS TAKING 3 10MG A DAY 6 MONTHS AND THE FIRST FEW DAYS WERE TERIBLE I WAS SO SICK BUT NOW BETTER THE SYMPTOMS CAME BACK A LITTLE TODAY BUT ARE GONE NOW HOPE TOMARROW WILL NOT EXPERIENCE ANY PHYICAL ONE WENT OUT INTO THE SUNLIGHT AND FELT BETTER I HOPE THAT MORE PEOPLE FIND OUT NOT TO TAKE THIS DRUG VERY BAD